This thesis provides novel contribution to the field of body-centric wireless communications (BCWC) with the development of a measurement methodology for wearable antenna characterisation on the human body, the implementation of fully-textile wearable antennas and the on-body channel modelling considering different antenna types and user's dynamic effects. More specifically, a measurement methodology is developed for characterising wearable antennas on different locations of the human body. A cylindrical near-field (CNF) technique is employed, which facilitates wearable antenna measurements on a full-body solid anthropomorphic mannequin (SAM) phantom. This technique allows the fast extraction of the full spherical radiation pattern and the corresponding radiation efficiency, which is an important parameter for optimising wearable system design. It appears as a cost- effective and easy to implement solution that does not require expensive positioning systems to rotate the phantom, in contrast to conventional roll-over-azimuth far-field systems. Furthermore, a flexible fully-textile wearable antenna is designed, fabricated and measured at 2.4 GHz that can be easily integrated in smart clothing. It supports surface wave propagation and exhibits an omni-directional radiation pattern that makes it suitable for on-body communications. It is based on a multilayer low-profile higher-mode patch antenna (HMMPA) design with embroidered shorting vias. Emphasis is given to the fabrication process of the textile vias with conductive sewing thread that play an important role in generating the optimal mode for on-body radiation. The radiation pattern shape of the proposed fully-textile antenna was found to be similar to a copper rigid antenna, exhibiting a high on-body radiation efficiency of 50 %. The potential of the embroidery technique for creating wearable antennas is also demonstrated with the fabrication of a circularly polarised spiral antenna that achieves a broadband performance from 0.9-3 GHz, which is suitable for off-body communications. By testing the textile spiral antenna on the SAM phantom, the antenna-body interaction is examined in a wide frequency range. Finally, a statistical characterisation of on-body communication channels is undertaken both with EM simulations and channel measurements including user's dynamic movement (walking and running). By using antenna types of different polarisation, the on-body channels are examined for different propagation conditions. Four on-body channels are examined with the one part fixed on the waist of the human body while the other part located on the chest, back, wrist and foot. Channel path gain is derived, while large-scale and small-scale fading are modelled by best-fit statistical distributions.

Wearable technology has attracted global attention in the last decade and the market is experiencing an unprecedented growth. Wearable devices are designed to be low-profile, light-weight and integrated seamlessly into daily life. Comfort is one of the most important requirements for wearable devices. Fabric based antennas are soft, flexible and can be integrated into clothing. State of the art textile manufacturing techniques such as embroidery, combined with advanced conductive textile materials can be used to fabricate flexible fabric based on-body antennas. In this thesis, the feasibility of using computerised embroidery in the fabrication of wearable, flexible yet functional fabric based antennas have been examined. The fabric based antennas are embroidered using conductive threads. The most suitable materials for fabricating embroidered antennas have been identified. The embroidered fabric based antenna systems including transmission lines and low-profile detachable connectors have been fabricated and their RF performances have been tested. The optimal manufacturing parameters related to embroidery such as stitch direction, spacing and length have been examined. The repeatability of embroidered antennas, cost estimation, and complexity of manufacturing process have been clearly presented. The results can be used to inform and provide guidelines for the development of representative products that can be mass manufactured. A new simulation approach has been introduced to analyse the anisotropic properties of embroidered conductive threads. Simulations and measurements indicate that the performances of embroidered antennas are affected by the anisotropic surface current due to the embroidered stitches. Exploiting the current direction, a novel non-uniform meshed patch antenna has been designed. Representative results show that the non-uniform meshed structure can significantly reduce more than 75% of the usage of conductive materials for the microstrip antennas with negligible effect on the antenna performance.

Submitted by Lara Oliveira (lara@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-07-10T22:31:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AlexandreHSO_DISSERT.pdf: 4241907 bytes, checksum: 7c578927aa89afb44e48b7e51e99d120 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-07-18T15:08:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 AlexandreHSO_DISSERT.pdf: 4241907 bytes, checksum: 7c578927aa89afb44e48b7e51e99d120 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-07-18T15:08:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 AlexandreHSO_DISSERT.pdf: 4241907 bytes, checksum: 7c578927aa89afb44e48b7e51e99d120 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-18T15:09:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AlexandreHSO_DISSERT.pdf: 4241907 bytes, checksum: 7c578927aa89afb44e48b7e51e99d120 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-07 / Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do RN / The knitted fabrics have elastic, easy production and malleability properties, these characteristics be useful in the design of flexible antennas, that can be used in a RFID tag, for example. The mean objective of this work is development of antenna with a Coplanar Waveguide fed (CPW), in a textile knitted substrate, for use in active RFID systems in microwave frequency of 2.45 GHz. From the characterization of the electrical properties by a Vector Networks Analyzer and one with a Dielectric Probe kit, obtained the values of Electrical Permissiveness and Loss Tangent, in sequence was carried out the characterization of the textile properties of Linear Density, Basis weight, Dimensional stability and Tensile Strength, based on the data obtained in characterization process, was chosen two fabrics with properties favorable to the design, modeling and construction of antennas. After the selection of the tissues, simulations were performed on Ansys HFSStm (High Frequency Structural Simulator) to obtain the parameters of Return Loss, Radiation Diagram, Current Density, Impedance, Gain and VSWR, as well as dimensional optimization of the antennas. Two CPW-fed antennas were simulated, one on textile substrate made from Soybean Protein Fibers (SPF) and the other with Polypropylene with corn Polylactic Acid fibers (PP + PLA). Based on the simulations, two antennas with their respective textile substrates were constructed and using a vector network analyzer, the return loss and the impedance shown by the Smith Chart were measured. Both showed a return loss below -10dB for central design frequency and wide bandwidth. The simulated and measured results were compared, analyzing them according to the specialized reading in the area. Showing the feasibility of developing CPW antennas in knitted fabrics for active RFID systems, in addition to the possibility of interoperability in internet of things (IoT) communication systems / Os tecidos de malha apresentam propriedades de elasticidade, facilidade de fabricação e maleabilidade, devido a estas características a utilização desse tipo de tecido traz vantagens na fabricação de antenas para aplicação no desenvolvimento de uma tag RFID. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver antenas com guias de ondas coplanares (CPW), em substrato têxtil em estruturas de malha, para utilização em sistemas ativos de Identificação por Rádio Frequência, RFID, para frequência de operação em micro-ondas de 2,45 GHz. Foi realizada a caracterização das propriedades elétricas por meio de um Analisador de Redes Vetoriais e com uma sonda de medição de matérias dielétricos, obtive-se então os valores de Permissividade elétrica e Tangentes de perdas, em sequência foi realizada a caracterização das propriedades têxteis de Título, Gramatura, Estabilidade Dimensional e Resistência a tração, com base nos dados obtidos no processo de caracterização se elegeu dois tecidos com propriedades favoráveis ao projeto, modelagem e construção das antenas têxteis. Após a seleção dos tecidos foram feitas simulações no Ansys HFSS® (High Frequency Strucutural Simulator) para obtenção dos parâmetros de Perda de retorno, Diagrama de radiação, Densidade de corrente, Impedância, Ganho e VSWR, além da otimização dimensional das antenas. Foram simuladas duas antenas CPW, uma em substrato têxtil feito de fibras de Proteína de Soja (SPF) e outra com fibras de Polipropileno com Ácido Polilático de Milho (PP+PLA). Com base nas simulações foram construídas duas antenas com os respectivos substratos têxteis e utilizando um analisador de redes vetoriais foram medidos a perda de retorno e a impedância, mostrada por meio da Carta de Smith. Ambas apresentaram uma perda de retorno abaixo de -10 dB para frequência central de projeto e uma alta largura de banda. Foi realizada a comparação dos resultados simulados e os efetivamente medidos, analisando-os de acordo com a literatura especializada na área. Mostrando a viabilidade do desenvolvimento de antenas CPW em tecidos de malha para sistemas RFID ativos, além da possibilidade da interoperabilidade em sistemas de comunicação por Internet das coisas, Internet of Things, IoT / 2017-07-10

Neste trabalho, foram desenvolvidas antenas têxteis de micro-ondas para aplicação em sistemas vestíveis, operando nas bandas ISM de 2,45 GHz e 5,8 GHz. Foram compiladas informações sobre o estado da arte em antenas têxteis, sendo realizado um estudo sobre antenas planares de micro-ondas e técnicas de alimentação das mesmas. Foi feita uma prospecção dos processos de fabricação de antenas têxteis de micro-ondas, definindo-se o processo e materiais têxteis usados na construção das antenas desenvolvidas. Procedeu-se à caracterização do tecido usado como substrato das antenas determinando-se suas características eletromagnéticas, utilizadas no projeto das antenas. Foram desenvolvidas antenas de microfita com plaqueta retangular e alimentação por sonda coaxial, para banda ISM de 2,45 GHz. Investigou-se o efeito da espessura do substrato da antena, tendo-se obtido experimentalmente larguras de banda de 4,8% e 6,0% para substratos com 0,7 mm e 1,4 mm de espessura, respectivamente. Foi proposta uma antena de microfita alimentada via acoplamento por proximidade que integra um transformador de um quarto de comprimento de onda ao circuito de alimentação, resultando em alargamento de banda da antena. Essa configuração foi utilizada no projeto de quatro antenas, que demonstraram experimentalmente larguras de banda de 11,2%, 13,4%, 17,0% e 24,0%. Uma configuração de antena têxtil empregando cavidade de um quarto de modo foi proposta para operação em banda dupla, sendo a tecnologia de guia de ondas integrado ao substrato - SIW, empregada em sua fabricação. Foi desenvolvido um procedimento de projeto para essa antena, o qual foi aplicado ao projeto de uma antena de banda dupla para as faixas ISM e 2,45 GHz e 5,8 GHz. Os resultados experimentais demostraram operação em banda dupla, com largura da banda inferior de 9,3%, e largura da banda superior de 9,2%. A antena de cavidade de quarto de modo apresentou as vantagens de maior ganho e menores dimensões relativamente às antenas têxteis de microfita desenvolvidas. De forma geral, os resultados experimentais dos protótipos construídos apresentaram boa concordância com os resultados fornecidos por simulação, demonstrando que as configurações de antenas propostas atenderam a seus objetivos, e a efetividade dos procedimentos de projeto adotado. / In this work, textile microwave antennas for use in wearable systems operating at 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz ISM bands were developed. Information on the state of art in textile antennas were compiled, and a study on microwave planar antennas and feeding techniques was performed. Processes for manufacturing textile microwave antennas were presented, and the fabrication process and textile materials used in this work were defined. The electromagnetic characteristics of the fabric used as antenna substrate were experimentally obtained, and used in the antenna design. Microstrip antennas using rectangular patch and coaxial probe feed were designed to operate at the 2.45 GHz ISM band. The effect of the antenna substrate thickness on the antenna characteristics was investigated, and experimental bandwidths of 4,8% and 6% were demonstrated for antennas with 0.7 mm and 1.4 mm thick substrates, respectively. A microstrip antenna fed by proximity coupling, including a quarter wavelength transformer at the feeding circuit, was proposed, resulting in the widening of the antenna bandwidth. This configuration was used to design four antennas, which experimentally demonstrated bandwidths of 11.2%, 13.4%, 17.0% and 24.0%. A textile antenna configuration employing a fourth mode cavity was proposed for dual band operation. Substrate integrated waveguide technology - SIW, was used for the antenna manufacturing. A design procedure was developed for this antenna, which has been applied to the design of a dual band antenna for the 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz ISM bands. The experimental results of this antenna demonstrated dual band operation, with 9.3% bandwidth at the lower band and 9.2% bandwidth at the higher band. The quarter mode cavity antenna presented the advantages of increased gain and smaller area than the designed textile microstrip antennas. In general, the experimental results of the fabricated prototypes exhibited good agreement with the results provided by simulation, demonstrating that the textile antenna configurations proposed met their expected performance and validating the design procedures adopted.

Neste trabalho, foram desenvolvidas antenas têxteis de micro-ondas para aplicação em sistemas vestíveis, operando nas bandas ISM de 2,45 GHz e 5,8 GHz. Foram compiladas informações sobre o estado da arte em antenas têxteis, sendo realizado um estudo sobre antenas planares de micro-ondas e técnicas de alimentação das mesmas. Foi feita uma prospecção dos processos de fabricação de antenas têxteis de micro-ondas, definindo-se o processo e materiais têxteis usados na construção das antenas desenvolvidas. Procedeu-se à caracterização do tecido usado como substrato das antenas determinando-se suas características eletromagnéticas, utilizadas no projeto das antenas. Foram desenvolvidas antenas de microfita com plaqueta retangular e alimentação por sonda coaxial, para banda ISM de 2,45 GHz. Investigou-se o efeito da espessura do substrato da antena, tendo-se obtido experimentalmente larguras de banda de 4,8% e 6,0% para substratos com 0,7 mm e 1,4 mm de espessura, respectivamente. Foi proposta uma antena de microfita alimentada via acoplamento por proximidade que integra um transformador de um quarto de comprimento de onda ao circuito de alimentação, resultando em alargamento de banda da antena. Essa configuração foi utilizada no projeto de quatro antenas, que demonstraram experimentalmente larguras de banda de 11,2%, 13,4%, 17,0% e 24,0%. Uma configuração de antena têxtil empregando cavidade de um quarto de modo foi proposta para operação em banda dupla, sendo a tecnologia de guia de ondas integrado ao substrato - SIW, empregada em sua fabricação. Foi desenvolvido um procedimento de projeto para essa antena, o qual foi aplicado ao projeto de uma antena de banda dupla para as faixas ISM e 2,45 GHz e 5,8 GHz. Os resultados experimentais demostraram operação em banda dupla, com largura da banda inferior de 9,3%, e largura da banda superior de 9,2%. A antena de cavidade de quarto de modo apresentou as vantagens de maior ganho e menores dimensões relativamente às antenas têxteis de microfita desenvolvidas. De forma geral, os resultados experimentais dos protótipos construídos apresentaram boa concordância com os resultados fornecidos por simulação, demonstrando que as configurações de antenas propostas atenderam a seus objetivos, e a efetividade dos procedimentos de projeto adotado. / In this work, textile microwave antennas for use in wearable systems operating at 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz ISM bands were developed. Information on the state of art in textile antennas were compiled, and a study on microwave planar antennas and feeding techniques was performed. Processes for manufacturing textile microwave antennas were presented, and the fabrication process and textile materials used in this work were defined. The electromagnetic characteristics of the fabric used as antenna substrate were experimentally obtained, and used in the antenna design. Microstrip antennas using rectangular patch and coaxial probe feed were designed to operate at the 2.45 GHz ISM band. The effect of the antenna substrate thickness on the antenna characteristics was investigated, and experimental bandwidths of 4,8% and 6% were demonstrated for antennas with 0.7 mm and 1.4 mm thick substrates, respectively. A microstrip antenna fed by proximity coupling, including a quarter wavelength transformer at the feeding circuit, was proposed, resulting in the widening of the antenna bandwidth. This configuration was used to design four antennas, which experimentally demonstrated bandwidths of 11.2%, 13.4%, 17.0% and 24.0%. A textile antenna configuration employing a fourth mode cavity was proposed for dual band operation. Substrate integrated waveguide technology - SIW, was used for the antenna manufacturing. A design procedure was developed for this antenna, which has been applied to the design of a dual band antenna for the 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz ISM bands. The experimental results of this antenna demonstrated dual band operation, with 9.3% bandwidth at the lower band and 9.2% bandwidth at the higher band. The quarter mode cavity antenna presented the advantages of increased gain and smaller area than the designed textile microstrip antennas. In general, the experimental results of the fabricated prototypes exhibited good agreement with the results provided by simulation, demonstrating that the textile antenna configurations proposed met their expected performance and validating the design procedures adopted.